Three point blade that offsets as it angles

ABSTRACT

A three point grader/snow scraper blade assembly has the ability to offset itself as the blade angles. The frame of the assembly is reversible and can be mounted from the front or the rear, providing a blade that can be manipulated to perform a desired task. The assembly includes a three point hitch mounted frame, an angle frame and a blade mount.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to three point hitch accessories and, more particularly, to a three point hitch attached grader/snow scraper blade that offsets as it angles.

Typical grader and snow scraper blades are static. At most, a user may have the ability to angle the blades, but their usefulness is limited to the path of the driving vehicle. Such conventional grading, scraping and snow blades are limited in their configurations.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved blade that can manipulated to provide multiple configurations to be suitable to perform various tasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a blade assembly comprises a frame assembly formed from a back weldment having a first blade attachment mechanism formed therein, a rear weldment having a second blade attachment mechanism formed therein, and left and right link weldments interconnecting the back weldment with the front weldment; and a dampener disposed between one of the left and right link weldments and the front weldment, the dampener configured to allow a blade to offset itself when angled.

In another aspect of the present invention, a blade assembly comprises a frame assembly formed from a back weldment having a first blade attachment mechanism formed therein, a rear weldment having a second blade attachment mechanism formed therein, and left and right link weldments interconnecting the back weldment with the front weldment; a dampener disposed between one of the left and right link weldments and the front weldment, the dampener configured to allow a blade to offset itself when angled; and at least one spring extending from the frame to the blade, the at least one spring urging the blade in a generally vertical position, wherein the front and back weldments are each formed from two channel members interconnected with gusset bars; the left and right link weldments each include two link channel members; and the two link channel members are pivotably attached to the front and back weldments.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three point hitch attached frame and blade assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the three point hitch attached frame and blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the three point hitch attached frame and blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the three point hitch attached frame and blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the three point hitch attached frame and blade assembly of FIG. 1, illustrating resilient rotational translation of the plow weldment and blade; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a three point hitch attached frame and blade assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a three point grader/snow scraper blade assembly that has the ability to offset itself as the blade angles. The frame of the assembly is reversible and can be mounted from the front or the rear, providing a blade that can be manipulated to perform a desired task. The assembly includes a three point hitch mounted frame, an angle frame and a blade mount.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, a blade assembly includes a frame formed from a back weldment 10 for supporting a blade 20, a front weldment 14 for attachment to a three point hitch (not shown), and left and right link weldments, 16, 18 disposed between the back weldment 10 and the front weldment 14. Typically, the front weldment 14 can be formed from two pieces connected with a gusset bar 12. The back weldment 10 can be similarly formed from two pieces. The left and right link weldments 16, 18 can be each formed from two pieces pivotably connected to the back weldment 10 and the front weldment 14.

The blade 20 can be formed from a top bent plate 22 and a blade edge 24. A spring 26 can extend from the frame to the top bent plate 22 of the blade 20.

The spring 26 can be configured to retain the blade 20 in a generally vertical position, where, should the blade edge 24 catch something along the ground, for example, the blade 20 can bend back, against the resiliency of the spring 26. The spring 26 can urge the blade 20 back to the vertical position. Typically, two springs 26 can be used, one on each side of the frame.

In some embodiments, the blade 20 can include a pin 28 that can be used to lock the blade in the vertical position. This can be useful when resiliency of the blade 20 is not needed or desired.

A dampener 30 can be provided, such as a hydraulic cylinder, to interconnect the front weldment 14 with one of the left link weldment 16 or, as shown in FIG. 1, the right link weldment 18. The dampener 30 is used to cause the blade 20 to offset automatically when it is angled.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the blade 20 can be attached to the front weldment 14. The frame can include blade mounts on both the back weldment 10 and the front weldment 14 to permit various configurations, depending upon the intended use of the blade assembly.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A blade assembly comprising: a frame assembly formed from a back weldment having a first blade attachment mechanism formed therein, a rear weldment having a second blade attachment mechanism formed therein, and left and right link weldments interconnecting the back weldment with the front weldment; and a dampener disposed between one of the left and right link weldments and the front weldment, the dampener configured to allow a blade to offset itself when angled.
 2. The blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the front and back weldments are each formed from two channel members interconnected with gusset bars.
 3. The blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the left and right link weldments each include two link channel members.
 4. The blade assembly of claim 3, wherein the two link channel members are pivotably attached to the front and back weldments.
 5. The blade assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one spring extending from the frame to the blade, the at least one spring urging the blade in a generally vertical position.
 6. The blade assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one spring includes two springs disposed on opposite sides of the frame assembly.
 7. The blade assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pin configured to lock a vertical configuration of the blade.
 8. A blade assembly comprising: a frame assembly formed from a back weldment having a first blade attachment mechanism formed therein, a rear weldment having a second blade attachment mechanism formed therein, and left and right link weldments interconnecting the back weldment with the front weldment; a dampener disposed between one of the left and right link weldments and the front weldment, the dampener configured to allow a blade to offset itself when angled; and at least one spring extending from the frame to the blade, the at least one spring urging the blade in a generally vertical position, wherein the front and back weldments are each formed from two channel members interconnected with gusset bars; the left and right link weldments each include two link channel members; and the two link channel members are pivotably attached to the front and back weldments.
 9. The blade assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one spring includes two springs disposed on opposite sides of the frame assembly.
 10. The blade assembly of claim 8, further comprising a pin configured to lock a vertical configuration of the blade. 